Gazette file photoTight ends' coach Jake Moreland takes a moment to talk to tight end Blake Hammond two years ago. WMU announced on Friday Moreland has taken a job with the Air Force football program.

KALAMAZOO – As the Western Michigan University football program welcomed in a new receiving coach, it had to say goodbye to another one.

WMU announced Friday afternoon the hiring of wide receivers coach Thad Ward and at the same time officially said goodbye to longtime tight ends coach Jake Moreland, who is leaving to become the tight ends coach at Air Force.

Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said he liked the work ethic Ward brings to the table.

“We’re excited about him,” Cubit said. “He did a great job in his interview. He was really knowledgeable. He’s mature. I was impressed with him. The guys down at Central Florida, where he played, were really impressed with him.”

Ward, a 2001 Central Florida graduate who caught passes over three seasons for the Knights, has built his coaching resume at a number of stops since his playing days.

Thad Ward

Most recently, Ward served as Gardner-Webb’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Prior to that, he spent six seasons at Western Illinois from 2005-10. He served as a high school coach in Florida from 2003-05 and Ward began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida A and M in 2002.

Cubit said he got numerous votes of support for Ward from coaches all over, including from within his own staff.

“It’s really hard when you don’t know anybody on the staff because you never know what you’re going to get,” Cubit said. “(WMU assistant coach) Ryan (Cubit) met him down there recruiting. (Lou) Esposito has some history with him. A.J. Ricker has some history with him. (Ward’s) name came up pretty quickly.

“You always want the staff to feel comfortable. Gene Chizek (the head coach at Auburn, who coached at UCF from 1998-01) called me and he was really high on him. He had a couple other guys that I know call me.”

Moreland spent 12 seasons as a student-athlete and coach at Western Michigan and mentored the Broncos’ tight ends the past seven seasons. He was member of the original staff Bill Cubit began with in 2005.

"I have been blessed to coach at my alma mater and have the opportunity to give back to a university, a program and a community that has meant so much to me and my family for so long," Moreland said.

Cubit said he hopes to have a new tight ends coach in place soon.

There is a feel of new era beginning in the Broncos’ potent passing attack with Ward replacing Josh Gattis, who is now coaching at Vanderbilt, and the graduation of WMU’s top three receivers, Jordan White, Chleb Ravenell and Robert Arnheim, who combined for 30 touchdowns and over 3,400 receiving yards.

Senior Eric Monette is WMU’s top returning wide receiver after hauling in 29 passes for 306 yards and one touchdown in 2011. He is a Portage Central graduate who was a walk-on player for three seasons prior to last year.

Cubit said Ward will have his hands full in guiding the next wave of WMU pass catchers.

“Last year, we had a lot of experienced players,” Cubit said. “It was more of a maintenance thing. This year, and I told Thad he’s going to earn his money, there’s a lot of guys that haven’t played a lot of football. …I think he’s going to have to be more of a teacher and that’s what we were looking for in the position and Thad was real thorough. There was no ambiguity in going through the routes. He knew exactly how he was going to teach it.

“I was impressed with how he did things. I told him he’s going to have to have some patience and the kids are going to have to have a sense of urgency or somehow we have to meet in the middle.”

Assistant coaches Ryan Cubit, A.J. Ricker and Steve Casula remain on staff. Cubit will continue to handle the passing game responsibilities, while Ricker remains the offensive line coach and run game coordinator and Casula will work with the running backs.